Given that an in-character news article referred to the in-game John Rourke character flying the "original 'Clear Skies' Tempest" in the award ceremony after CS2 was released, I think it's pretty clear that Clear Skies exists in a far different continuity - reality, even - than the EVE universe as we know it.
Now, my thoughts on the film itself...
My main complaint with the film is that at times it feels like there's to much in it. After a while, it began to feel like that were to many steps with to many twists and turns in a story smashed into to small a timeframe, resulting in things playing out and resolving faster than they "should have". The rapid scene changes, often accompanying jarring changes in the "pace" of the scene, didn't help.
Now, the reason I listed my complaint first is because it would have felt stupid to tack a complaint on to the end of my post after going on forever about how
freaking amazing this movie is. Everything that was awesome about the first 2 Clear Skies, they've made better - absolutely epic fights, nice visuals, and the arguing/sniping/joking between everybody aboard the titular ship, topped off with a nice round of shoutouts to both Clear Skies continuity and EVE's community (for instance, a little sneaking reference to a lovable piratess many of us know...).
And now, spoiler stuff:
[spoiler]
- Their portrayal of the Jovian: I think they did really quite good here. In contrast to just about everything else we've seen in Clear Skies, the Jovian is utterly alien while remaining largely unseen, which nicely lets the viewers' minds fill in.
- They really, Really, REALLY want the series to end. Blow up the titular ship? Fans demand a 3rd movie! This time we're throwing them into Jovian space, so it can finally be over!
- "It's hot-drop'o'clock!"
[/spoiler]